Rockford, Ill.

Rockford, with 760 violent crimes per
100,000 residents, is one of those towns where the crime rate stems from a
complex series of factors. It switched last year to the National Incident-Based
Reporting system, which as with Memphis, helps to keep more accurate records,
but also can result in reported rates of crime that are higher than other
cities that use different reporting mechanisms. “Unfortunately, not every city
wants to use that system because it often results in higher rates of crime in
the reports,” says Stults. Interstate 39, which is located on the eastern edge
of the city and heads north to Wisconsin, could also be a factor, as again,
larger interstate highways tend to be popular routes for drug couriers to use
for distribution, and Rockford’s proximity to Chicago makes it attractive as a
waypoint for drug couriers.